Supporting Internationally Educated nurses as They Transition to Working in the Canadian Health-Care System

The recruitment of internationally educated nurses (IEN) is identified as one of the solutions to persistent health-care workforce shortages across the country. In 2022, IENs accounted for 13 per cent of all nurses in Canada, and this continues to increase with recruitment efforts and policy changes aimed at addressing health human resource gaps.

Prior research shows that varying pathways to professional recertification can be confusing, costly and lengthy, and may result in downward employment mobility, deskilling, and IENs leaving the profession (Covell et al., 2022; Crea-Arsenio et al., 2023). For those who do make it into practice, IENs are making meaningful contributions to a health-care system in crisis, but they are also confronted with a host of challenges.

IENs in Canada have reported difficulties with workforce integration, feeling unwelcome, racism and discrimination, learning to navigate our systems, and adjusting to aspects of nursing that differ from country to country (e.g. scope of practice, communication styles, etc.) (Covell et al., 2014).